Coin and slug segregating apparatus



Jan. 10, 1933. A, WILLIAMS 1,893,692

COIN AND SLUG SEGREGATING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1930 fig. 5.

ATTO RN EYJ Patented Jan. 10, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR. M. WILLIAMS, DEA-RBORN, MICHIGAN COIN AND SLUG SEGREGATING APPARATUS Application filed June 24,

The present invention pertains to anovel ooinha-nd slug segregating apparatus of a type particularly adapted for use with coin operated vending machines.

The primary object of the present invention is to devise an apparatus for segregating slugs of metal from genuine coins to prevent the fraudulent insertion of slugs into various types of coin operated machines. The apparatus includes an inclined chute which is pivotally mounted and counterbalanced in a manner whereby an ordinary metal slug passes over the same and is ejected out an opening in the side of the enclosing casing whereas a genuine coinwhich is ordinarily of greater weightthan the slug causes a tilting of the chute in a manner to guide the coin to the receiving opening of the vending machine. The counterbalancing of the pivoted inclined chute must necessarily be very delicately adjusted and capable of a sharp or quick pivotal movement and therefore the present invention utilizes a magnet as part of the counterbalancing means, the chute being provided with a projecting finger which ordinarily projects into the field of magnetic attraction. The coin in passing over the inclined chute causes pivoting of the same and as soon as the finger is moved out of the field of magnetic attraction the counter-balance is removed and the chute is then able to pivot freely and quickly.

With the above and other ends in view the invention consists in the matters hereinafter O set forth and more partlcularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich Figure 1 is a cross sectional side elevation of the present coin selecting apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional plan taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of'Fig. 2;

5 Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4:4 of Fig.2, and

Fig. 5- is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 ofFig. 2. J

Li ke characters of reference are employed throughout to designate the corresponding parts.

1930. Serial No. 463,502.

The numeral 1 indicates a wall which represents the upper surface of any coin-operated vending machine having a slot 2 to receive the coins. Mounted uponthe wall 1 is a casing 3 having a coin receiving .slot 4 and a slot 5 opening to. the upper side of the wall 1, this latter slot being provided so that any bogus coin or slugswhich are inserted in the slot amay be ejected from the casing 3 at a point outside of theslotmachine having the wall 1.

The coin selecting apparatus is entirely errclosed in the casing 3 and comprises an inclined base p'late'6 having a strap member 7 supported thereon to afford a pivotal su-pport for a. shaft 8 upon which is mounted a chute 9. On the opposite side of the shaft 8 and integral with the chute 9 is a counterbal-ancing plate 10 supporting a screw 11 and a movable weight 12. Secured to the .counter-balancing plate 10 is a finger 13' which projects downwardly adjacent a bar magnet 14 which is secured by clips 14 to the base plate'6.

On the end of the base plate which is ad- 7 jacent the slot 4. there is mounted a wall. 15 and secured to this wall and spaced therefrom is a wall 16, the latter wall being bent inwardly against the former as indicated at 17 which provides a tunnel through which the coin passes andis directed upon the chute 9. To prevent excessive bouncing of the coin as it falls between the walls 15 and 16 through the slot 4 there is provided an anvil 18 formed of metal and also a finger 19 is inserted through a perforation 26 under which the coin must pass before it enters. the chute 9. The finger 19 is spaced a distance from the anvil 18 which is only slightly great er than the coin so that the coin .cannot pass. under the same while it is. bouncing.

At the opposite end of the base plate 1 there is a wall construction which resembles the frogin a railway track, there being the three walls 21, 22 and 23, the wall 22 being centrally located between the other two. The opening; 5 in the casing 3 registers with the space between the walls 21 and 22 and the opening'2 in the top wall of the slot machine 0 registers with the space between the walls 22 and 23.

In describing the operation of the present apparatus let it be assumed that a bogus metal slug, lighter in weight than a genuine coin is inserted in the slot l. It then falls between the walls 15 and 16 onto the anvil 18 and after it stops bouncing it rolls smoothly under the finger 1.9 through the tunnel onto the chute 9. It rolls down the chute 9 from which it passes through between the walls 21 and 22 and out the slot 5.

When a genuine coin-is inserted in the slot 4: it passes under the finger 19 onto the chute 9 and the weight of the coin and chute on one side of the shaft 8 is greater than the combined weight of the counter-balancing plate 10 and weight 12 plus the magnetic attraction of the magnet 14. The chute 9 then pivots on the shaft 8 to the position indicated in Fig. 4: of the drawing and the coin as it leaves the chute is directed between the walls 22 and 28 where it falls through the slot 2 into the vending machine.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that both the top and bottom of the chute 9 are rounded and as the coin 25 rolls down the same it is in a slightly inclined or angular position. This feature has considerable importance due to the fact that certain atmospheric conditions cause sweating or small drops of moisture form on the sides of the chute and when a coin is passed down the chute with its sides rubbing against the sides of the chute the resistance of the moisture to the movement of the coin is commonly known to stop the coin. This undesirable feature is overcome by rounding the bottom and top of the chute which ordinarily makes it impossible for the side of the coin to come in direct contact with the side wall of the chute.

Considerable importance is also attached to the fact that part of the counter-balancing of the pivoting chute is accomplished by the use of the bar magnet 1e. By using a magnet it is possible to attain quicker pivotal movement of the chute for as soon as the chute is moved out of the field of the magnetic attraction there is practically no counter-balancing weight to prevent its movement.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

lVhat I claim is:

V 1. A device of the character described comprising a compartment opening to the exterior of the device, a compartment opening into a coin operated machine, a pivotally mounted chute adapted to receive coins and to discharge said coins into one of said compartments, and a magnet for counter-balancing said chute against the weight of a coin therein.

2. A device of the character described comprising a compartment opening to the exterior of the device, a compartment opening into a coin operated machine, a pivotally mounted inclined chute, magnetic counterbalancing means for said chute adapted to maintain said chute to discharge into one of said compartments, saidchute and counterbalancing means being adapted to be moved on their pivotal support by the weight of a coin passing through said chute, whereby said chute is moved to a position in line with the other of said compartments.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pivotally mounted inclined chute, an anvil positioned adjacent the entrance to said chute and inclined to direct a coin falling thereon into said chute, a pair of compartments positioned adjacent the lower end of said chute, and counter-balancing means for said chute adapted to hold said chute in a position to direct slugs of one weight passing through said chute into one of said compartments and to be moved by a coin of a different weight to direct said coin into the other of said compartments, said means comprising an arm secured to, said chute on the opposite side of its pivotal support, and a rigidly mounted magnet adapted to attract said arm.

4. A device of the character described comprising a compartment opening to the exterior of the device, a compartment opening into a coin operated machine, a chute adapted to receive coins at one end and to discharge said coins into one of said compartments, and coin delaying means adjacent the entrance to said chute projecting into the path of a coin before entrance into said chute, and a magnet for counter-balancing said chute against the weight of a coin therein.

5. A coin selecting device comprising a compartment opening into the exterior of the device, a compartment opening into a coin operated machine, a pivotally mounted frame, a chute mounted upon said frame with its vertical center below the pivotal axis of said frame and with its length extending parallel to the axis of pivotal movementof said frame, counter-balancing means mounted upon the frame on the opposite side of said axis of pivotal movement, and means for receiving a coin or slug and directing it upon said chute.

6. A coin selecting device comprising a. compartment opening into the exterior of the device, a compartment opening into a coin operated machine, a pivotally mounted frame, a chute mounted upon said frame with its length extending parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said frame, an arm extending outwardly from said frame on the opposite side of said axis of pivotal movement, a magnet rigidly mounted adjacent said frame and adapted to attract said arm in a manner to counter-balance the weight of said chute, and means for receiving a coin or slug and directing it upon said chute.

7. The combination with a compartmentfor receiving slugs and a distinct compartment for receiving coins, of a frame pivotally mounted adjacent said compartments, a chute mounted upon said frame with its length parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said frame whereby pivotal movement of said frame causes said chute to be moved bodily into line with one or the other of said compartments, and means for counter-balancing the weight of said chute plus the weight of a slug whereby a slug passes over said chute without causing a pivotal movement of said frame while a coin causes pivotal movement of said frame, and means for receiving a coin or slug and directing it upon said chute.

8. The combination with a compartment for receiving slugs and a compartment for receiving coins, of a frame pivotally mounted adjacent said compartments, a chute mounted upon said frame with its length parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of said frame whereby pivotal movement of said frame causes said chute to be moved bodily into line with one of said compartments, and means for counter-balancing the weight of said chute plus the weight of a slug whereby a slug passes over said chute without causing pivotal movement of said frame while a coin causes pivotal movement of said frame, said means comprising an arm secured upon said frame, a magnet rigidly mounted adjacent said frame and adapted to attract said arm, and means for receiving a coin or slug and directing it upon said chute.

In testimony whereof I aflix "my signature.

ARTHUR M. WVILLIAMS. 

